2 Corinthians 7-8

Chap 7 & 8 _ 2 Cor

Introduction for chap 7 2 Corinthians 6:17–18(HCSB) 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. 18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.

After Paul had listed all the ways, the trials, that he had gone through he closes with saying that we are not to be part of the world, Come out from them. God promises that if we remain his and don’t join with the world He will be a father to us. and we will be his children. This is not to be taken literally. God is always one and only one. He is distinct from us. We can enjoy and be blessed with a all things. But just because we are called his children, we are never to be gods. We are created beings; not uncreated God.

You are to come out from them.

The references in the OT about combining or joining into the world. Deuteronomy 22:9–11 Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; otherwise, the entire harvest, both the crop you plant and the produce of the vineyard, will be defiled. 10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 11 Do not wear clothes made of both wool and linen.

As said in Leviticus you are not to merge to different things together. Leviticus 19:18–19 18 Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am Yahweh. 19 “You are to keep My statutes. You must not crossbreed two different kinds of your livestock, sow your fields with two kinds of seed, or put on a garment made of two kinds of material.

He continues into chap 7

Chap 7

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO 2 Corinthians 7:1(HCSB) Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God.

So part of cleanse ourselves from every impurity is to remove ourselves from the world. Don’t homogenize, don’t compromise but love without blending with the world. God’s promise to take us in as children in His family obligates us to repent, become pure in flesh and spirit. Doesn’t mean to become justified in the world or your body but to be pure in the sight of the world. You may be accused, but remain blameless in your walk before the world and with God.

Review the circumstances that Paul was in- Paul is having sever, conflicting emotions. He loves this church, he founded this church, it was his legacy and prodigy. Yet Corinth has gone through a raucous painful growth. Idols, sexual impurity , drunkenness, not unified, different factions over whose clique they followed, diminishing Paul,, doubting his credentials Jews . When he left and found out more difficulties , he returned and was severe with them. so a he sent a letter that Titus carried. An he had heard nother. Think of being uncertain if your church has left you, were you too tough would they accept the other letter

Paul; was pained that he had to rebuke them,. but he must keep them on the straight and narrow. Paul was upset by what had gone on in Corinth= he paid them a rush visit that went very badly, so he sent to them another letter to be delivered by Titus which he already referenced in 2 Corinthians 2:12–13 (HCSB) to Macedonia 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me. 13 I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.

Joy and Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:2–7(HCSB) 2 Accept us. We have wronged no one, corrupted no one, defrauded no one. 3 I don’t say this to condemn you, for I have already said that you are in our hearts, to live together and to die together. 4 I have great confidence in you; I have great pride in you. I am filled with encouragement; I am overcome with joy in all our afflictions.

5 In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears inside. 6 But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, 7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

So he is still pained for what he needed to do. He wants his church to understand that he did not defraud anyone, he loves them that he lives and dies in them. Then he picks himself up and returns to God’s perspective- but I am confident in you, encouraged by you, afflictions are overcome with joy. God’s encouragement is delivered via another believer – Titus. God often works this way through another believer. One of a down series of days, nothing especially bad but a downward slide into purposelessness and not able to see and improvement. Then Mickey Morgan called me. I’ve only talked to him a few times and only momentarily- nothing heavy. He told me that the Lord had put me into his heart and he needed to call me. We talked every few months during his last days until he was unable or got to tired to respond to my calls. He , being obedient to the promptings of God, gave me a needed transfusion of hope.

OOOOOOOOOO 2 Corinthians 7:8–16(HCSB) 8 For even if I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it—even though I did regret it since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a little while. 9 Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death. 11 For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been comforted.

In addition to our comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. 14 For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been embarrassed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth. 15 And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you.

This is what brings revival. Is this what the church is experiencing today? With the advent of of a weak president and a vice president who is unrestrained ambition, pro abortion, against Israel. This has shocked the church into alertness. We have slumbered and sat tat the table feasting on the blessings which our children were untrained, the truth was only mumbled since we didn’t want to offend the worlds. Now you see where we are in this nation.

The grieving, almost deep despairing about what is feared and then Titus shows up with their response. They haven’t rejected him, in fact their respect and obedience that was shown to Pauls’ s representative [Titus\ results in joy, hallelujah, the burden reverses into a blessing. The humbly received him and respected him, not grudgingly but how you received him with fear and trembling [with reverence about him and who he represents In the church God’s reassurance comes from a brother, that has received grace from another set of brothers. Mickey Morgan encouraging me out of the blue.

Paul boasting about them.

But we must not back away from the truth. We tend to avoid or play down difference so as not to be offensive. Linda and sister Kate said they are going to speak up. No more.!

Our mission is to proclaim; not just do good deeds that the world can then attribute to anyone sources of our behavior. We are nice, charitable, and serve a purpose but don’t permit our main purpose to be to known. Squelch the truth, label the gospel as something which we can attribute our deeds , but don’t glorify the Lord in public.

Chap 8 _ Appeal to Complete the Collection

OOOOOOOOO 2 Corinthians 8:1–7(HCSB) We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. 3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will. 6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us —excel also in this grace.

Paul talks about Macedonia who was severely afflicted. There was a famine going on bout this time. So Macedonia was poor [deep poverty], by the standards of that day. Yet they gave beyond the ability. The gave what the could not looking at what they could give up.

They gave to the lord and to Paul

He is comparing the grace of God

Now just as you have succeeded in faith , speech knowledge, being alert to lies, and love - let yourself excel in this giving also.

OOOOO 2 Corinthians 8:8–15 (HCSB) 8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. 10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. 11 But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality — 14 at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. 15 As it has been written:

The person who gathered much

did not have too much,

and the person who gathered little

did not have too little.

6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. 7 Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us —excel also in this grace.

8. I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich. 10

I’m not going to order you.

If you think about an allegory of Christ =He supplied grace even if self-sacrificial [ agape]. He is asking the churches to become sanctified by learning the joy of applying grace to others- just as Jesus did. The ideas is that a giving, graceful church is to do as Christ did.

Now complete the task. Bring it to fruition- you earned to do , you wanted to now go thru with it.

13. if for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality — 14 at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. what this is saying that you now have the means to share; later you may need their surplus to share with you. Give according to what you have. He says that doing this may be for equality. It is a challenge to do what you did last year and compared to other churches. And your giving is a way to test your love- what is your attitude are you eager to give?

What is the difference between socialism and grace??

Ben Shapiro: Socialism violates at least three of the Ten Commandments:

1. 1It turns government into God,

2. it legalizes thievery

3. and it elevates covetousness. Discussions of income inequality, after all, aren't about prosperity but about petty spite. Why should you care how much money I make, so long as you are happy?

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money. Margaret Thatcher

Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it. Thomas Sowell

Socialism values equality more than liberty. Dennis Prager

Administration of the Collection

OOOOOO 2 Corinthians 8:16–24(HCSB)16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. 18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry. 19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us. 21 For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men. 22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.

This gift is a large sum. It is being protected and watched over. Avoid all criticism. Note now about EFCA ministry financial overwatch. Appears that EFCA aligns with some ministries and does not publish financial difficulties for the big ministries. Has EFCA been compromised?

Our brother is esteemed, but no one knows who this respected person was.

Again Paul challenges them. Prove our boast of who you [the church] is to other churches. Set an example. You are Corinth- large, wealthy so give.